Mexico weekly ledger., 1887-12-29
The FiAherles of Alaska.

The waters of Alaska, both fresh and
sSlt. teen with fish valuable as food.
oil producers, and fertilizers. The
fresh-water streams are from june
until September crowded with salmon
of excellent quality aad trout; Of the
former five and Of the latter as many
species. Salmon, too, fhrong the baya
and inlets, and on every bank in
Behring Sea. the Gulf of Alaska, and
throughout the inland waters Goldfish
or halihut, according to the nature Of
tie bottom, arc abundant, and in their
seasons immense schools of herring,
smelt, capelin, lancetish, and doglish
visit the BAYS.
There arc now about twenty vessels
engaged in codfish;ng. The principal
fishing grounds are OFF Fox and Shu-
magin Islands. In this vicinity there
are q number of productive banks,
with water varying in depth from,
thirty TO sixty fathoms. There is 4
bank in the eastern part of Behring
Sea which has an area of over 1900
square miles, OH which fifty fathoms is
the deepest water that has been found,
and on every portion of which goldfish
are abundant. In 1879 the schooner
Alfred Adams made three round trips
from San Francisco in forty-three.
forty-five. and forty days, bringing on
each occasion $4,000 pounds of fish.
Bait is abundant and easily obtainabie
near the Sfumagins.
The resources in salmon are inex-
haustible. Every stream from the
great Yukon, cmptying into the SOUTH
ern part of Norton Sound and navi-
gable for 1,So0 miles from its mouth,
to little brooks flowing from melting
glaciers and snow-banks is in its
season crowded with salmon ascend
ing for purposes of reproduction, and
during these seasons the adjacent bays
and sea are alive with the salmon.
The salmon of Alaska have not been
scientifically classified, but there are
at least five distinct varieties, makins
their appearance at different periods
Early in june very fine salmon. thu
| Quinnat, called by the Russians Chow
chou, begins to run; the Kikofi sue
ceeds, and it is followed in July by tn,
Cressena rebia (red-fiashed), and In
August the Garbosha (humpbacked|
begins to run and lasts about fivs
weeks, during which time the Kisch.
utch, or black-mouth, have theil
season. The salmon of Alaska esugh
in the salt water of the ocean ar.
superior to those obtained at the fish
cries on the Columbia and other river,
| where they are taken in brackisl
| waters.
.3nt little endearor to develop the
halibut fisheries of Alaska has been
made, but it is an established fact th
these fish are so very abundant ana e:
such an excellent quality that in time
they viii rate high among the resour.
ces of the country. In this neighbor-
hood they can be caught in from five
: to o-tWenty fathoms of water, weighing
from 40 to SOC pounds. and they-far
an important portion OF the fooa OF
the Indians, who dry and smoke the
desh. The Indians sell then 81 Is at
rate of about half cent 4,ssr ,.s,und.
The halibnt aud cod tishesles .. aiiaska
are much easier OF access and more
free fram danger than those ON the
eastern coast. aud the labor and ex
pense involved much less. Nearly al
| of the fishing hanks are near safe har
1 bofs, wilpra tile scnVpner can lie and
seud ont tae sories, "a short distance Il
| the grounds. Alaska has, indeed,
great future in her fisheries. and it Il
4 wonder 10 i,s that Congress spends
50 nii,.ia time guibbfing with Englant
| evei, these on the east when she own
and controls far superior ones on tn,
| .ssst.--yalRecg dtass6) Free Press.